Puali‘ahu

"To never forget the art of the feather cape"

The Pualiʻahu Workshop Series is a scholarship program taught by Kumu Rick San Nicolas and made possible through the generous support of Nā ʻŌiwi Kāne.

The workshop is completed in two required parts on Oʻahu and is designed to teach the traditional techniques used to create a Hawaiian feather cape (ʻahu ʻula). Between the two in-person workshop weekends, students will spend time independently bundling feathers and completing their practice cape before returning to begin their full-sized cape.

This application is the first step in Kumu Rick's review process. Please answer each question thoughtfully and honestly so he can get to know you and your interest in perpetuating this art form.

Travel to Oʻahu

The Pualiʻahu Workshop Series is currently offered only on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi.

We know there is a great deal of interest in bringing these workshops to the continent, and we truly appreciate that enthusiasm. At this time, Kumu Rick remains committed to teaching the workshops on Oʻahu, where the program was founded and where he continues to share this art form in person.

If you are selected, you will be responsible for traveling to Oʻahu to attend both required workshop sessions. Please apply only if you are willing and able to make that commitment.

Additional information about what the scholarship does and does not cover will be provided next.

Scholarship Coverage

The Pualiʻahu Workshop Series is made possible through the generous support of our sponsoring nonprofit, Nā ʻŌiwi Kāne. The scholarship is intended to remove as many barriers as possible to learning this art form, but it does not cover all expenses associated with participating.

The scholarship includes:

• Workshop instruction with Kumu Rick
• Workshop materials and supplies needed during class (including netting, scissors, and snips, etc.)
• One pound of feathers in the student's selected color (red or yellow). (Depending on the student's cape design, additional feathers may be needed to complete their project.)
• One year of support from Kumu Rick by phone, text, email, or FaceTime following your first workshop

The scholarship does not include:

• Airfare to and from Oʻahu
• Lodging accommodations
• Rental car or other ground transportation
• Meals and personal expenses
• Any additional feather purchases beyond those included with the workshop

We encourage you to review these expectations carefully before continuing with your application.

Communication

Communication throughout the application and workshop process will be sent by email.

Please add pualiahuworkshops@gmail.com to your contacts or safe sender list and check your inbox (and spam folder) regularly. We understand that emails can occasionally be missed, but applicants are responsible for monitoring their email and responding to requests for information or confirmations.

If we are unable to reach you after multiple attempts or you do not respond within the requested timeframe, your application may be considered non-responsive and your opportunity may be offered to another applicant.

We appreciate your help in keeping communication open throughout the application process.

All about you.

Let's start with some basic information about you before we move on.

Tell Us About Yourself

The next section includes a series of open-ended questions that will help Kumu Rick get to know you, your experiences, and what inspired you to apply for the Pualiʻahu Workshop Series.

There are no right or wrong answers. We simply encourage you to answer thoughtfully and honestly.

Just a few more things...

You're almost finished! The last few questions help us stay connected with you, understand how you heard about the workshop, and improve our outreach for future workshop opportunities.

What happens next?

Mahalo for taking the time to complete your application.

Applications are reviewed throughout the application period and continue through several stages of review. Because every application is carefully considered, this process takes time and applicants may hear from us at different points throughout the review process.

1. Application Review
Once your application is submitted, it becomes part of our review process.

2. Workshop Availability
As workshops begin to fill, applicants who are being considered may receive a Workshop Availability Form asking them to indicate which workshop dates they are available to attend.

Completing the Workshop Availability Form is required to continue through the application process. Applicants who do not respond or complete the form by the requested deadline will not move forward in the review process.

Please note that completing the Workshop Availability Form does not guarantee acceptance into the workshop.

3. Availability Confirmation
As workshop rosters begin to take shape, some applicants may receive an email asking them to confirm that they are still available for one or more of the workshop dates they previously selected.

Receiving this email means your application is still under consideration, but it is not an acceptance email.

4. Final Review
Kumu Rick personally completes the final review of each application before students are selected.

5. Acceptance
Applicants who are selected will receive an acceptance email with additional information and next steps.

Applications close on December 31, 2027, but portions of the review process may begin before the application period has ended. Please continue to monitor the email address you provided, including your spam or junk folder, throughout the application process.